Greywacke Chardonnay 2011

Greywacke - Marlborough
- New Zealand

Professional Wine Reviews for Greywacke Chardonnay 2011

Rated 96 by Decanter

A spunky chardonnay. There's seductive flinty complexity on the nose, surrounding bright citrus and nectarine fruits, spicy oak and a raw, chalky edge. The palate has folds of beautifully ripe fruit all coiled close. It delivers length and power with an air of classy elegance. Toasted-hazelnut finish. Magic stuff. Drink now. (Suckling)

Professional Wine Reviews for Greywacke Chardonnay 2011

Rated 96 by Decanter

A spunky chardonnay. There's seductive flinty complexity on the nose, surrounding bright citrus and nectarine fruits, spicy oak and a raw, chalky edge. The palate has folds of beautifully ripe fruit all coiled close. It delivers length and power with an air of classy elegance. Toasted-hazelnut finish. Magic stuff. Drink now. (Suckling)

Additional Information on Greywacke Chardonnay 2011

Vintage: 2011

The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.

Varietal: Chardonnay

In the past couple of decades, the sales of wines made with Chardonnay grapes has risen and fallen more than once. For many people, this green skinned grape was marred by a poor reputation for bland and uninteresting wines, a great shame considering the fact that Chardonnay grapes have proven time and time again to be interesting, versatile and full of surprises. Most commonly, fine Chardonnay wines are buttery, smooth and creamy as a result of malolactic fermentation, yet with hints of tropical fruits and orchard fruits such as apples and pears. What is most remarkable about Chardonnay grapes, however, is the fact that unlike many other 'white' grapes, they are exceptionally good at holding the characteristics of their terroir in the bottle. As such, despite their fluctuating reputation, this is one grape varietal which produces constantly surprising, impressive and varied wines.

Region: Marlborough

Although most commonly associated with excellent Sauvignon Blanc wines, the Marlborough region of New Zealand has also consistently proven that it is capable of growing extremely high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals, thus helping the country's wine industry grow in size and range. The region is an exceptionally good one for growing excellent grapes, the climatic conditions allow wineries to extend the ripening times of the fruit, and the result is fruit which is packed full of bright, strong flavors and able to express the finer features of the terroir it grows on. Since the 1970s, Marlborough has greatly impressed the world with its superb wines, and this special region now accounts for over sixty percent of the area of New Zealand under vine.

Country: New Zealand

When it comes to New World wines, few countries can compete with Europe quite as well as New Zealand, where modern techniques and technologies are allowing wineries to get the very best results from the wide range of imported grape varieties which flourish there. The warm, sunny climate coupled with brisk oceanic winds and remarkably fertile volcanic soils produce grapes of exceptional quality, and New Zealand wines are notable for their ability to carry the terroir they are grown on into the bottle. Whilst the Sauvignon Blanc wines are probably the most widely exported and popular to come out of new Zealand, fantastic results have been produced from the Bordeaux style wines made in the Auckland region, and the Pinot Noir wines of Central Otago. These Pinot Noir wines are far more fleshy than their Burgundy counterparts, and are probably best enjoyed when young, and bursting with the fruit flavors they carry so well.